Situation of Jews in Chile “Good,” Says Jewish Member of Chilean Parliament

December 17, 1944

NEW YORK (Dec. 15)

The situation of the 25,000 Jews in Chile is "good" and the bulk of the Jewish community, including 13,000 post-Hitler refugees, are a constructive force within the nation’s economy, Dr. Natalio Berman, a member of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today.

Dr. Berman said that Jewish groups of all political and social shadings are represented in the Representative Committee of Chilean Jews, which carries on both philanthropic and civic protective activities. It also represents the Jews in all dealings with the government.

Attempts by fascist groups to spread anti-Semitism in Chile have failed, said Dr. Berman, who represents the unified Communist-Socialist Party in Congress, where he is completing his second four-year term. As an indication of the lack of anti-Semitism in Chile, Dr. Berman pointed to the fact that his constituency is completely non-Jewish.

Dr. Berman represented the Jews of Chile and Bolivia at the Atlantic City conference of the World Jewish Congress. On a recent visit to Bolivia, where the position of the Jews was very uncertain following the revolution of last year, Dr. Berman said that he found that the situation of the Jews has improved greatly.